Last night, Wednesday, February 20, 2008, Wilmingtonians were treated to a spectacular show in the nighttime sky. A total lunar eclipse was visible over much of Wilmington and our surrounding counties last night. South Topsail Elementary School in Pender County even had an Eclipse Viewing Group in the backlot of their school. Students were invited to bring family, binoculars and telescopes to watch the event. While it was a little chilly, everyone had warm jackets and warm drinks, but were completely mesmerized by the sight. Some of the students had never seen an eclipse.
A lunar eclipse occurs whenever the moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely, with the Earth being in the middle. The moon must always be full on the night of the lunar eclipse.
The next total lunar eclipse will not be visible in North America until December 21, 2010.
